( i94 ) 
The Red-bilP d Whistling Duck. 
T HIS Bird is fomething lefs than a common Duck, having 
the Neck and Legs longer in Proportion ; this poffibly may be 
the Male, and the laft defcribed the Female of the fame Species, but 
I cannot pronounce them to be fo, becaufe it was at different and dis- 
tant Times 1 faw the two Birds. 
The Bill is fhaped much like that of the laft defcribed : It is of a pleafant 
red Colour, Yellowifh about the Noftrils, and Black at the Hook or Point of 
the upper Mandible. The Irides of the Eyes are of a dark Hafel-Colour ; 
the Sides of the Head, all round the Eyes, and the under Side or Throat, are of 
a lightifh Afh-Colour ; the Crown and Hinder-part of the Head are Black ; the 
Neck, Bre aft and Back, are of a dull Red, or Brick-Colour, light on the Breaft, 
and darker on the Back; the greater Quills of the Wings are Black, as are thofe 
of the Baftard Wing, which cover their Bottoms ; the Inner-Quills that fall on 
the Back or Rump, are of a dark Brick-colour’d Red ; the firft and fecond Rows 
of Coverts, next above the Quills are White, and form a large white Spot in 
the Middle of the Wing ; next above the White is a Plat of bright Orange- 
Colour ; above which the fmall Feathers on the Ridge and Joint of the Wing are 
Black, which Black pafies along the Ridge of the Wing, down the Side of the 
Belly to the Quills. The whole Belly and Thighs are Black; but where the 
Red on the Breaft, and the Black on the Belly unite, thefe blended Colours 
form a dufky Afh-Colour. The Covert-Feathers beneath the Tail are whitifh, 
fpotted with fmall black Marks, tending the Lengthway of the Feathers ; the 
Tail is Black, and a little pointed ; the Rump and Covert-Feathers on the upper 
Side of the Tail are alfo Black. The Legs are bare of Feathers a little 
above the Knees ; the Toes are webbed as in other Ducks, the inner Toes having 
lateral Webs on their Inftdes ; the Legs and Feet are of a Flefh-Colour ; the 
Claws are Black, 
This Bird I drew at Sir Charles Wager's Houfe, on Par Jonh-Green . It was 
brought from the Weft-Indies by the Name of the Wbiftling-Duck. Both this 
and the laft defcribed when difturbed made a Whiftling Nolle : Whether this, or 
that be the Whifiling Duck mentioned in Sir Hans Sloane's Hijlory of Jamaica, I 
cannot tell, becaufe there is no Account of its Colours in what is faid of it; but I 
rather believe the firft is meant, becaufe the Figure in Vol, II. Tab. 272, of that 
Hiftory,. is reprefented with a fpotted Belly, which this laft defcribed Bird hath 
not. 
The 
Vol. IV. 
L 
